FPPC Enforcement Decisions, March 16, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            

March 16, 2023

For More Information Contact:

Jay Wierenga (916) 322-7761

.pdf version of news release

Additional information on each of the enforcement cases listed below can be found in the March agenda on the FPPC website at www.fppc.ca.gov. FPPC agendas are distributed and posted on the agency website at least 10 days prior to each monthly meeting.

The web version of the agenda includes links to the stipulations agreed to between the FPPC Enforcement Division and the individuals and organizations subject to the fines, or the default decisions proposed to the Commission. Exhibits in support of the stipulations and proposed default decisions are also available on the website. If you or need further assistance, please contact the FPPC communications office at (916) 322-7761 or press@fppc.ca.gov.

I. The following are enforcement decisions approved by the Fair Political Practices Commission at its regular monthly meeting held on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine in each case.

Campaign Contribution Limits

In the Matter of Join Travis Allen to Repeal the Gas Tax Ballot Measure Committee, Major Funding By PISF, Inc., and Travis Allen; FPPC No. 18/236. Staff: Christopher B. Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Travis Allen was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Join Travis Allen to Repeal the Gas Tax Ballot Measure Committee, Major Funding By PISF, Inc. was a primarily formed ballot measure committee controlled by Allen. The Committee and Allen improperly made expenditures of controlled ballot measure committee funds for a purpose unrelated to a ballot measure, in violation of FPPC Regulation 18521.5, subdivision (d) (1 count). Fine: $3,500.

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In the Matter of Orange County Teachers for Local Control of Public Education, Stephanie Tellez, Karen Ridley, Geoff Morganstern; FPPC No. 18/334. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel and Roone Petersen, Special Investigator. Orange County Teachers for Local Control of Public Education is a local primarily formed committee. Stephanie Tellez, Karen Ridley, Geoff Morganstern were treasurers of the Committee. The Committee, Morganstern, Ridley, and Tellez failed to timely file three pre-election campaign statements and four semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200 and 84200.5 (1 count); and failed to timely file two 24-hour contribution reports and two 24-hour independent expenditure reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84203 and 84204 (1 count). The Committee and Ridley failed to include the proper advertising disclosures on mailers distributed prior to the November 6, 2018 General Election, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502, 84503, 84504.2, and 84506.5 (4 counts). Fine: $24,000.

II. The following are enforcement decisions approved through the streamline penalty process and were executed by the Chief of Enforcement per Regulation 18360.2 following the March 16, 2023 meeting. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine in each case.

Campaign Bank Account

In the Matter of Travis Allen, Travis Allen For Governor 2018, and Lysa Ray; FPPC No. 17/916. Staff: Christopher B. Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. This matter arose, in part, from an audit performed by the Franchise Tax Board’s Political Reform Audit Program. Travis Allen was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Travis Allen For Governor 2018 was Allen’s candidate-controlled committee. Lysa Ray served as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Allen, and Ray failed to maintain adequate records and documentation to fully substantiate the campaign reporting during four different reporting periods, in violation of Government Code Section 84104 (4 counts). The Committee, Allen, and Ray failed to pay certain expenditures from the designated campaign bank account during two different reporting periods, in violation of Government Code Section 85201 (2 counts). The Committee, Allen, and Ray failed to timely report certain activity on campaign statements covering five different reporting periods, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (5 counts). Fine: $5,508 (Tiers One & Two).

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In the Matter of Buena Park Teachers Association Political Action Committee, Karen Musurlian; FPPC No. 18/1475. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel and Roone Petersen, Special Investigator. Buena Park Teachers Association PAC is a local primarily formed committee. Karen Musurlian is the Committee’s principal officer. The Committee and Musurlian failed to include the proper advertising disclosures on yard signs, postcards, and doorhangers distributed prior to the November 6, 2018 General Election, in violation of Government Code Section 84502 (3 counts). Fine: $1,215 (Tier Two).

In the Matter of Khalid Chaudhry; FPPC No. 18/1275. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. Khalid Chaudhry was a local independent expenditure committee in the November 6, 2018 General Election. The Committee failed to timely file a 24-hour independent expenditure report, in violation of Government Code Section 84204 (1 count); and failed to include the proper advertising disclosure on an advertisement distributed prior to the November 6, 2018 General Election, in violation of Government Code Section 84502 (1 count). Fine: $546 (Tier One).

Lobbying Reporting

In the Matter of CALinnovates; FPPC No. 19/386. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. The respondent is represented by James Sutton of the Sutton Law Firm. CALinnovates, a $5,000 filer, failed to timely file two Reports of Persons Spending $5,000 or More to Influence Legislative or Administrative Action (Form 645), in violation of Government Code Section 86116 (2 counts). Fine: $4,815 (Tier Two).

Campaign Late Filer

In the Matter of Joseph W Brady for Victor Valley College Board of Trustees 2022, Joseph W. Brady, and Cheryl L. Bluy; FPPC No. 22/1058. Staff: Christopher Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Vanessa Greer, Staff Services Analyst. Joseph W. Brady was a successful candidate for Victor Valley Community College District Member, Governing Board Area 2 in the November 8, 2022 General Election. Joseph W Brady for Victor Valley College Board of Trustees 2022 was Brady’s candidate-controlled committee and Cheryl L. Bluy served as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Brady, and Bluy failed to timely file eight 24-hour contribution reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (8 counts). Fine: $1,695 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Kassandra Wilson and Kassandra Wilson Trustee of Chaffey Joint Union High School District for Area 4 – 2022; FPPC No. 23/028. Staff: Christopher Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Vanessa Greer, Staff Services Analyst. Kassandra Wilson was an unsuccessful candidate for Chaffey Joint Union High School District Member, Governing Board Area 4 in the November 8, 2022 General Election. Kassandra Wilson Trustee of Chaffey Joint Union High School District for Area 4 – 2022 was Wilson’s candidate-controlled committee. Wilson served as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Wilson failed to timely file two 24-hour contribution reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (2 counts). Fine: $435 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Danny Tillman and Tillman for San Bernardino School Board 2022; FPPC No. 22/1069. Staff: Christopher Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Vanessa Greer, Staff Services Analyst. Danny Tillman was a successful candidate for San Bernardino City Unified School District Member, Governing Board in the November 8, 2022 General Election. Tillman for San Bernardino School Board 2022 was Tillman’s candidate-controlled committee, and they served as the Committee’s treasurer. Tillman and the Committee failed to timely file a 24-hour contribution report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $250 (Tier One).

Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer

In the Matter of Beau Diedrich; FPPC No. 20/702. Staff: Christopher Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Beau Diedrich, Director, Silver Creek Drainage District, failed to timely file the 2019 and 2020 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (2 counts). Fine: $400 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Arif Mansuri; FPPC No. 20/053. Staff: Christopher Burton, Acting Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Arif Mansuri, Board Member with the Library Board of Trustees, City of Fullerton, failed to timely file the Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

Statement of Economic Interests Late Reporter

In the Matter of Sarkis Nazerian; FPPC No. 21/653. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel and Katelin Angeloni, Special Investigator. The respondent is represented by Raffi G. Naljian of Naljian Law Offices. Sarkis Nazerian, Building Official for the City of Pasadena, failed to timely report one source of income on their 2019 and 2020 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87302 (2 counts). Fine: $200 (Tier One).